Author Archives
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War" and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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In Memoriam: My Hero Director John Stroud
We’re very sorry to report that My Hero and producer and director John Stroud has died aged 54 of a brain tumour. John, who was also co-founder of Big Bear Films with Marcus Mortimer and is probably best known for… Read More ›
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Beano Revamp announced, New Look for Dennis
DC Thomson has announced plans to revamp its remaining weekly comic, The Beano. Contrary to our earlier report they’ve also given Dennis the Menace a makeover in the comic as well as the re-design planned for his new CBBC animated… Read More ›
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Nostalgia and Comics Opens Doors to Small Press
Some good news for British small press publishers – another store wants your comics. The Manchester Comix Collective reports that part of a major makeover for the Nostalgia and Comics shop in Birmingham – which is owned by Forbidden Planet… Read More ›
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Comic Piracy on the Net: New Clamp Down Plans Announced
British fans sharing e-versions of comics via the Internet could soon come under the spotlight of anti-piracy organisations, after the government announced further measures to tackle digital piracy, mid-way through the consultation period on its Digital Britain report. The Guardian… Read More ›
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Dennis De-Menacing Denounced
(Updated 24/8/09): CCBC’s revamp of The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace, which launches next month on the TV channel, has been given the big thumbs down by his creator’s family. The Daily Telegraph reports that Rosemary Moffat and Alison Gardiner, the… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: SciFi Heroes of the 1970s
What’s not to love about this labour of love by illustrator Dusty Abell we just found over on deviantart? We don’t think Dusty’s missed out many of TV’s 1970s heroes, including those from British series such as Space: 1999. “This… Read More ›
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Adventures in Wonderland
downthetubes is pleased to announce an interview by Matt Badham with Dracula and Sherlock Holmes writers Leah Moore and John Reppion. Leah and John are the husband and wife writing team behind Doctor Who: The Whispering Gallery, The Complete Dracula,… Read More ›
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WexWorlds Sci Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival Invades Wexford
Artemis Fowl creator Eoin Colfer, Darren Shan (The Saga of Darren Shan) and Hugo Award-winning author Ian McDonald (Brasyl, Desolation Road) are among the many creators who will be attending the first WexWorlds Festival, in Wexford, Ireland from Friday 20th… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Eternal Warrior, Enid Blyton and Kit Williams
• It’s about time we re-plugged the Eternal Warrior, Paul Grist’s pastiche on British comics hero Adam Eterno, who first appeared in Thunder back in the early 1970s. Over on the Bleeding Cool forum, some Americans have started screaming that… Read More ›
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Omnivistascope 5 Now Available
“Omni-Vista-Scope” 1. A device upon which all things may be viewed.2. The Omnivistascope Corporation, a universal broadcaster.3. A high quality science fiction comic anthology written by Paul Scott. The latest issue of Paul Scott’s excellent annual Omnivistascope has been released…. Read More ›
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Take A Dump For 99p
David Robertson has sent us details of his new small press title Dump which follows on from the two issues of Berserkotron, his previous title. Dump is a 24 page US size anthology with colour covers and black & white… Read More ›
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Garth in Colour for Spaceship Away: Exclusive Sneek Peek!
Spaceship Away, the British science fiction comic anthology publishing all-new adventures of the original Dan Dare, adds Daily Mirror action hero Garth to its line up next issue. First published in 1943, Garth’s time-travelling adventures lasted for over 50 years… Read More ›
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GI Handley: Rise of the Writer
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CBBC Revamps Short Form Animation Portal
The award-winning British channel CBBC has reinforced its commitment to British animation, announcing its online portal Cartoon Works is expanding to become a new destination to premiere short-form content from the UK animation industry. CBBC has also commissioned brand new… Read More ›
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Jonathan Ross Reveals His New Comic Title
In a podcast for top cult news site Geek Syndciate, the often controversial DJ and major celebrity comic fan Jonathan Ross (who has also even appeared in a few, such as The Beano!) has revealed the upcoming four issue mini… Read More ›
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Temple Seeks Drawing, Writing Devotees!
Just a quick reminder that there’s just under a month to go until the deadline for contributing to the next Temple (18th September), the e-comic of British small and indie press work that’s the brainchild of the Temple APA. Everyone’s… Read More ›
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Amazon, Uclick, Launch International Comic Strip Superstar Competition!
Amazon.com and Andrews McMeel Universal have announced the launch of the first Comic Strip Superstar, the international competition in search of the next popular comic strip artist. The winner will receive a publishing contract from Andrews McMeel Publishing, a $5,000… Read More ›
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Who Wants To Be A Zombie?
Rich McAuliffe and Mark Chilcott, the slightly unhinged creators of Insomnia Publications’ Damaged Goods, are currently on the prowl for victims… umm…I mean willing volunteers… to immortalise within the pages of the dark and twisted story The Bride. All you… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Dave Gibbons, Digital Awards and Zombies!
downthetubes has been having some behind-the-scenes computer woes: we apologize for the lack of posts in recent days. We’re grateful to Jeremy Briggs for his review of Cinebooks’ Rameses’ Revenge. Digital Artist 2009 Masterclass #1 – Dave Gibbons from Intel… Read More ›
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Nick Abadzis Torchwood comic strip reaches finale
The latest Torchwood magazine, on sale tomorrow in the UK, features the final part of award-winning British comic book creator Nick Abadzis‘s story for the title. Abadzis, creator of the acclaimed graphic novel Laika and a contributor to The Times… Read More ›